The reported contract between James Shields and the San Diego Padres generates a variety of storylines, from the union of Shields and former trade partner Wil Myers to the final touches of revamped Padres roster to the opportunity for Shields to pitch...

PHOENIX — If any team in baseball needs to make a splash this winter, it's the White Sox.
They have money to spend, an urgency to win and a fan base that has proved time and again it won't support a loser — and sometimes not even a winner....

KEY MOMENT: With two outs in the top of the sixth, Prince Fielder hit a ground ball to shortstop that probably would have ended the inning if the Angels hadn't shifted their infield slightly toward the right side. Shortstop Erick Aybar made a diving...

The Angels don't need Hector Santiago to anchor the rotation; that's the job of capable veterans Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson. They just can't afford for the left-hander to be an anchor in the rotation, a pitcher who weighs the staff down.
But that's...

The Angels have one-third of their opening-day lineup — left fielder Josh Hamilton, right fielder Kole Calhoun and third baseman David Freese, who suffered a small fracture of his right middle finger Friday night — on the disabled list, yet offense is the least of their concerns.
Their most glaring weakness, one they must fix if they are to end a four-year playoff drought, is a bullpen that entered Saturday night’s game against the Texas Rangers with a 4-5 record, 4.20 earned-run...

AT THE PLATE: Erick Aybar and Albert Pujols hit solo homers in the first inning — it was the 502nd homer of Pujols' career — but the Angels managed little else against Rangers ace Yu Darvish, who gave up three runs and seven hits in 61/3 innings, striking out nine and walking one, to improve to 7-1 with a 3.82 ERA in 11 career starts against the Angels. Ranger Michael Choice hit a three-run homer and a run-scoring single; Prince Fielder had two run-scoring doubles and a single; .077-hitting...

As trade talks heat up ahead of baseball's July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, the biggest name available will be a left-handed starting pitcher — and another lefty ace could join him on the market.
With the Tampa Bay Rays tied for last place in the American League East, Rays general manager Andrew Friedman likely will burn through the anytime minutes on his phone this month, fielding calls from suitors hoping to land 28-year-old left-hander David Price.
Price, a former American League Cy Young...

What's with Ronald Belisario? He pitches three extra innings (with one run) after the Sox blow a lead in the ninth, and (then) he pitches two scoreless set-up innings in Boston. But as a ninth inning closer, he can't find the plate or get anybody out. We need a closer. How different can the ninth inning be compared to any other inning of a tied or close game? -- Kevin M., Bettendorf, Iowa
With his inconsistency in the closer’s role, it’s easy to forget what a nice stretch Ronald Belisario...

Before Monday's game against the Texas Rangers, Orioles slugger Chris Davis joked that it might take years until he was completely comfortable playing third base.
But the club's regular first baseman, manning the other side of the infield because of Manny Machado’s suspension, didn’t look too out of place in the Orioles’ 7-1 win over the Rangers.
Starting at the position for the first time since 2011, Davis recorded four assists, receiving loud ovations for each one from the...

ARLINGTON, Texas – Nelson Cruz is in the Orioles' starting lineup Tuesday against the Texas Rangers batting third and playing left field.
After getting hit by a pitch in his left hand Sunday, Cruz received treatment. He was able to hold a bat Monday and has already tested the hand by swinging in the indoor cages Tuesday.
This is Cruz’s first trip back to Arlington after spending the past eight seasons with the Texas Rangers.
“It’s weird,” Cruz said about being back in...